Ignition // Anne Sallow X Ominis Gaunt

Chapter 2: Mermaids

Ominis- 1st Day of Classes

"I think I heard one!"

I smiled to myself knowing I had once again fooled the younger classmen into thinking mermaids took refuge outside of our common room. I had been standing there most of the morning enjoying the sounds of the water moving ever so slightly, feeling the cool glass against my hands. It's one of my favorite spots in the castle.

It was one of her favorite spots too.

The main reason I stood near the large common room window all morning was to prank quite  a few kids as they prepared for their first day at Hogwarts. Some kids would stand there for nearly half an hour, their minds playing tricks into seeing a glimpse of one, or hearing a song. When I was trying my hardest not to laugh, I'd motion my head to the side... but this time she wasn't there to laugh with me.

The kids standing by the window continued to search for any signs for the mesmerizing creatures, while I sensed a new set of footsteps near me.

The new fifth year girl had come up and introduced herself, curious about the mermaids. Hearing rumor of what she had been through the past day, I decided to let her in on the joke. Something about her told me she's tough to fool.

I had heard the chatter of her arriving with Professor Fig after a dragon attack, but other than that, she's had no experience of the wizarding world.

There was no fear in introducing myself to muggle-borns. It was refreshing to have them know little to nothing of the Gaunt name.

After a small conversation, I said my goodbyes, but by then she had already been in another realm. Her heartbeat had sped up, and I heard her swallow loudly. Her footsteps ever so carefully carried her away.

That was odd

"Can I help you?" I heard Sebastian say.

Oh, she introduced herself to Sebastian.

Oh... she introduced herself to Sebastian.

Being an eavesdropper like myself is an art form. I wandered away from the window a bit to hear their conversation. It's quite impressive how quick he was to turn on the charm for a girl he found attractive.

I smiled to myself, walking back towards the window, a new couple of kids observing the fish.

"You know," I began mischievously, "if you look long enough, sometimes you'll see a mermaid pass by." The kids gleamed with excitement and I could hear them press their faces to the glass to really get a good look.

Oh Anne, I wish you were here to see the looks on their faces.

Ominis- Beginning of 2nd Year

"Ominis!"  Anne yelled from behind the sofa where I was looking over potions notes. I jumped, causing all my papers to go flying.

"Bloody hell Anne, you startled me! What are you doing up so early anyways?"

"Well..." She already had mischief in her voice. I knew I was going to like where this was going. She wandered around to the couch and sat next to me, causing my nerves to skyrocket. Damnit Gaunt, you're better than this.

"I had a brilliant idea for messing with the first years, and I knew you'd want to be involved."

Oh, she had definitely caught my attention now.

"Go on" I said, turning towards her.

"We see how long we can get first years to stand by the window, by telling them if they stand their long enough, they'll see a mermaid."

That made me chuckle, rather loudly actually. The thought of young students pressing their faces so firmly against the glass for possibly hours with almost zero chance of seeing a mermaid was a rather hilarious situation.

"Anne, my dear, your mischief is a true gift."

I heard her heartbeat elevate, for a moment.

Just a moment.

That pricked the curiosities in my mind, but they were soon diminished by her yanking at my arm to go stand by the window.

Slowly first years started to come down to the common room, and she nudged me.

"Follow my lead" she whispered in my ear, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand.

"I cannot believe how shiny the tail on that mermaid was!" She stated dramatically, "Ominis, I wish you could've seen it!" That got some ears perked.

I've spent enough time with Anne to know exactly what she was getting at.

My turn to put on a show.

"Anne, I didn't need to see it, I heard it's song! Right outside the window!"

"Yes! Right. Outside. The. Window! How peculiar!"

A flock of first years rushed towards the window, and I pulled Anne out of the way, right before a stampede took over. Now leaning against the wall, we giggled with each other at the chaos we created.

"I propose we make this a yearly tradition," she said, "every first day, we get up and see how many first years we can get to gawk at the window looking for mermaids."

"I would expect nothing less."

A tradition I would look forward to for the next several years.

That was 3 years ago to the day. I stood now, taking in the empty presence next to me against the wall. The past 3 years we fooled some of the poor first years so bad, we made them miss their first class at Hogwarts ever. It was our special way of starting off the new year.

Now she isn't here.

I stood there silently, the excitement slowly leaving my spirit as I really began to take in that Anne wasn't next to me to enjoy this moment. I miss the tradition with her.

I miss her.

The moment I snapped back to it, I realized the common room was pretty much empty. I took a deep breath before heading back up to my bedroom to gather my things for the day.

Then I heard a hoot.

I held my arm out, and my owl perched. I gave her a pat on the head before retrieving the letter from her beak. Another pat, and she flew away.

I don't normally receive letters. My family has always seen me as nothing more than a worthless traitor, and after ignoring dozens of their degrading letters over the past couple of years, and burning every single one them without ever thinking of writing back, they finally gave up contacting me.

I hovered my wand over the letter.  Blood rushed to my face, along with a massive smile. My stomach swam with butterflies.

The letter was from Anne Sallow.